Foundation Stage Parent Handbook 2024/25

RISHWORTH SCHOOL

PREPARATORY

FOUNDATION STAGE

Parent Information Pack

Head'sWelcome A very warm welcome to Rishworth Prep! It is such a pleasure to be a part of such a vibrant, enthusiastic and loving group that makes up our ‘Pre Prep’ – Rishworth’s Nursery and Reception. By ‘group’ I mean both the children and the adults supporting them in equal measure, as one simply would not exist without the other.

I hope that you find the information contained within this booklet both informative and a reflection of the fantastic times to be had at the prep school as you share your child’s journey through their education. Of course, should you have any further questions or thoughts, please do speak with a member of our staff, as they will be only too pleased to help you.

Mr D Baker

Mr David Baker Head of Rishworth Prep

Contents Page 4

EYFS Overview

Page 7

Daily Routine - Reception

Page 8

Daily Routine - Nursery

Page 9

Drop off & Collection

Page 10 Uniform Page 11 Staff - Who is Who? Page 12 Medical Guidance Page 13 Food and Drink Page 14 Communication Page 15 School Map Rishworth Prep Foundation Stage is the Nursery and Reception class.

Further details can be found in the on the website at rishworth-school.co.uk.

The contents of this booklet are as accurate as they can be at the time of publication but may be subject to change as the needs of the school vary. Parents are advised to check with the school the accuracy of any detail which is of particular importance to them or their child.

EYFSOverview Parents' Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is how the Government and early years professionals describe the time in your child’s life between birth and age 5.

This is a very important stage as it helps your child to prepare for their future learning and successes.

From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years’ experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.

At Rishworth Prep we follow the statutory guidance in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

This has recently been updated for September 2023.

It sets out: The legal welfare requirements that everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare There are two curriculum documents that we use to create the best possible provision and education for your child: Birth to 5 and Development Matters. These documents cover: The 7 areas of learning and development which guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS Expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the Reception year There is also guidance for us as professionals supporting your child on planning the learning activities, and observing and assessing what and how your child is learning and developing.

How will my child be learning?

The EYFS Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development.

At Rishworth Prep your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

EYFSOverview Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are: Communication and language Physical development Personal, social and emotional development These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are: Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. At Rishworth we ensure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs and where possible, follow their own interests. This is our curriculum and it's designed to be really flexible so that as staff can adapt it as necessary to respond to the needs of the children.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

The Changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has been reformed and there is a new EYFS framework that all schools and settings are required to follow from September 2023. These national changes have been made to better support all pupils’ learning and development. It is also the aim that the new framework will enable pupils to be more prepared for the transition into Year 1.

There are some elements of the EYFS that have not significantly changed and some that have.

Below are some of the key points from the new EYFS reforms that include relevant changes: Early Years staff will be spending less time on large amounts of written observations and assessments for evidence collection. This means they can spend more time supporting and engaging with the children and their learning and development needs.

Pupils will no longer be assessed against statements from an age band category. Instead, staff will use their experience and knowledge to monitor if a child’s learning and development is on track for their age.

The Early Learning Goals at the end of Reception have been changed to become clearer and easier to understand. Staff will use their judgements to assess if children have met these goals at the end of the EYFS and inform parents/carers.

EYFSOverview There is a huge emphasis on improving pupil’s language and vocabulary through increasing opportunities for conversations, reading of a wide range of books and holding discussions around activities in other areas of learning.

Literacy and numeracy skills focused on in the EYFS have been adapted to match up more clearly with the curriculum that starts in Year 1.

There is no longer an exceeding judgement at the end of Reception. Instead pupils will be challenged to have a greater depth and understanding of ideas.

Safeguarding and welfare of pupils is still an upmost priority, with the added mention of teaching pupils about the importance of good oral health and how to keep teeth clean and healthy.

Assessment in the Foundation Stage When your child joins us in Nursery or Reception, we will carry out our own observations to give us a baseline (starting point) for your child. This starting point will be individual for each child and will ensure that we tailor the learning to each unique child.

At the end of the EYFS – in the summer term of the Reception year in school – the Reception teacher completes an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile. This assessment is based on observations and assessments throughout the Reception year.

The doors to the Foundation unit are always open for parents to come in and discuss anything with their child’s teacher, key worker or any member of the team. Alongside daily contact, we have regular progress meetings each term and parents also have access to photos and videos of their child’s learning.

DailyRoutine Reception TIME ACTIVITY 7:45 - 8:30am

Before School Care / Breakfast Club Parents should escort their child to the Before School Care and sign them in.

8:30am

School Opens Bring your child though the back doors of the FS unit and help them to hang up their coat, They can then come to the tables to put their name in the basket, bag in the box and hand in any books, letters etc. Children will then come into the provision independently and parents can leave through the garden gate.

8:55am

Registration

8:55 - 11:30am

Independent Learning Time and Focus Activities.

These activities have a focus from all the 7 areas of learning or from specialist teachers.

11:30 - 12:00pm

Lunch is served in the School Dining Room

12:20pm

Nursery / Reception group stories and rhyme time or outdoor play

12:30pm

Outdoor Play

13:20pm

Independent Learning Time and Focus Activities.

The afternoon starts with a focus session and then we have independent learning or specialist teacher activities.

15:00pm

Story/End of Day Activities

15:30pm

End of Day Children can be collected from the FS unit.

15:30pm +

After – school care service is available.

Reception children requiring this facility will be in the FS unit and can be collected from there up until 5:45pm

DailyRoutine Nursery TIME ACTIVITY 7:45 - 8:30am

Before School Care / Breakfast Club Parents should escort their child to the Before School Care and sign them in.

8:30am

School Opens Bring your child though the back doors of the FS unit and help them to hang up their coat, They can then come to the tables to put their name in the basket, bag in the box and hand in any books, letters etc. Children will then come into the provision independently and parents can leave through the garden gate.

8:55am

Registration

8:55 - 11:30am

Independent Learning Time and Focus Activities.

These activities have a focus from all the 7 areas of learning or from specialist teachers.

11:30 - 12:00pm

Lunch is served in the School Dining Room

12:20pm

Nursery / Reception group stories and rhyme time or outdoor play

12:30pm

Outdoor Play

13:20pm

Independent Learning Time and Focus Activities.

The afternoon starts with a focus session and then we have independent learning or specialist teacher activities.

15:00pm

Story/End of Day Activities

15:30pm

End of Day Children can be collected from the FS unit.

15:30pm +

After – school care service is available.

Reception children requiring this facility will be in the FS unit and can be collected from there up until 5:45pm

DropOff&Collection Guidance to dropping off and collecting your child We take every step to ensure the safety of your child when they are in the FS unit and when they are being dropped off and collected.

Nursery If your child is in Nursery then in the morning they should be brought through the green gate by the KS1 playground, round the outside of school and in through the back doors of the FS unit.

If you need to drop your child off before 8.30am then you can take them to before school care in the Foundation Stage Unit and we will collect them from there.

When you are collecting your child at the end of the day, please come through the green gate by the KS1 playground and round to the front of the unit. Once the doors are opened your child will be dismissed by the staff.

Reception At the start of the year, Reception children will come in the same way as Nursery. As the year progresses they will be brought to the pupil entrance of school and dropped off at the door. However changes will be communicated throughout the year.

When you are collecting your child at the end of the day, please come through the green gate by the KS1 playground and round to the front of the FS unit by the Reception classroom End of the day for Nursery and Reception children is 3:30pm.

If your child is going to After School Care then they will be collected from the FS unit at the time you choose up until 5:45pm Please make sure that you shut and secure the gates when entering the garden of the unit.

For us, as a team, it is vital that we know who is collecting your child and that we either recognise them or have been previously informed that they will be coming. Please make sure that you tell us of any changes to the person collecting your child. Ideally we will have met them previously but if this is not possible, please make sure staff and the person collecting have a password that we can use to check that we are handing your child over to the correct person.

If we are unsure of the person collecting then we will not allow your child to leave until we have contacted one of the approved people on the pick-up list. We thank you for your understanding and patience with this but know that you will agree that your child’s safety is paramount.

Uniform What your child needs All school uniform can be found on the website Schoolblazer.com, details of how to access this are on the website. Please be advised that uniform for Nursery is recommended but is non-compulsory.

Nursery Uniform is non-compulsory for Nursery Girls can wear the pinafore dress/summer dress or navy tracksuit bottoms/shorts with a white aertex t shirt. They would then wear the crested cardigan with dresses or sweatshirt with tracksuit/shorts. They wear grey or white socks and black shoes Boys can wear navy tracksuit bottoms/shorts with a white aertex and crested sweatshirt, grey socks and black shoes Your child can bring a pair of black pumps to keep in school in case they need a change of shoe during the day On a PE and Swimming days they can come to school in navy tracksuit bottoms/leggings/shorts and white aertex with the crested sweatshirt Please bring a spare set of underwear and clothes in case of accidents. These can be kept in school at all times. They can be non-uniform but please name them

Reception Girls wear the pinafore dress/summer dress with a white shirt and crested cardigan, grey or white socks and black shoes Boys wear grey trousers, white shirt and crested jumper, grey socks and black shoes Spare set of underwear and clothes if they are prone to accidents. These do not have to be uniform.

Both Wellies kept in school at all times Named water bottle Sun hat and cream in the warmer weather Scarf, hat and gloves in the colder weather School coat

School book bag (can be bought from the school office for £10) A named water proof suit or top and bottoms for Forest School Black swimming costume/trunks, towel and hat (if long hair) in a named bag for Swimming

WhoIsWho? Meet the Nursery and Reception Team Mr David Baker

Mrs Elisabeth Allison

Head of Rishworth Prep.

Deputy Head of Rishworth Prep.

Foundation Stage Key Staff Mrs Allison – Deputy Head, Head of Early Years and KS1, SENDCo Miss I'Anson - Reception Teacher / Key Worker Mrs Mellin – Nursery Manager/Key Worker Miss Duffy – Nursery Deputy Mnager/Foundation Stage Teaching Assistant

Visiting and Support Staff Members Miss Needham – Art Mrs Jones - Drama

Mr Terry and Mrs Davies – Swimming Miss Edwards - Learning Support Mrs Brereton - Music/Performing Arts

Safeguarding Leads All the adults working at Rishworth Prep promote the welfare of children, but there are specific members of staff who are Designated Safeguarding Leads/Officers, whose role it is to be especially aware of child protection issues: Mr Baker - Head, DSL Mrs Allison - Deputy Head, Deputy DSL Rev Canon Hilary Barber - Chair of Governors

Governors can be contacted: C/o Rishworth School, Rishworth, West Yorkshire HX6 4QA Should you wish to contact the school at any time, the details can be found on the school website.

MedicalGuidance Medicine and Illness If your child is ill at the start of the day, then please decide whether it is appropriate to bring them into school. We understand that, particularly with the younger children, there are often a number of coughs and colds and that it is not always feasible to keep your child at home however we do try to minimise the spread of illness.

In the case of sickness and diarrhoea, we ask that your child does not return to school for 48 hours since their last incidence.

There are some illnesses that require your child to stay off school for a certain period of time due to infection. We ask that you consult your doctor in these cases and we will always consult the school matron who has up to date information about such illnesses.

If your child becomes unwell whilst at school then they will be seen by one of the first aiders. If it is deemed necessary, parents will be called to be informed of the child’s condition or to be asked to come and collect them. Please make sure school has up to date contact information for you.

Medicines are not normally kept or administered at school. However if you have medicine that your child needs and you need us to administer it then the correct paperwork must be filled in in the Foundation Stage unit with a member of the team. We will want to know the exact timing and dosage that is needed and this will need to be signed by a parent on a daily basis regardless if the dosage is the same each day.

Food&Drink What your child will eat Snacks All children in the Foundation Stage have a morning and afternoon snack with a drink of water or milk.

Lunch If your child stays for lunch then they will go to the main dining room to have lunch. There is a choice of food which includes hot food, vegetarian and halal options and a salad bar.

We encourage the children to try different foods with which they may be unfamiliar. Mealtimes are an opportunity to help children with their knife and fork skills and to promote healthy eating and table manners. All the staff sit and eat with the children so these skills can be modelled.

Dietary Requirements If your child has any particular dietary requirements or allergies then please speak to the team because these can easily be accommodated.

Parents Involvement During the spring term we hope to hold a parents’ lunch week when you have the opportunity to come in and have lunch with your child to experience their school environment and get an insight into their progress and well-being.

Communication Foundation Stage Facebook Page This year we are continuing our private Facebook page for Nursery and Reception parents.

The page will be our platform for showcasing what your children are doing each day. We will upload pictures, videos and comments that will give you an insight into your child’s day as well as being able to see their learning development.

We will also be able to communicate with you on the page to keep you up to date with what is going on, events taking place and anything different that the children may need to bring in on certain days.

You will be able to message us privately through the page or write things on the wall that may be useful for other parents as well.

We know this will be a superb way for us to keep the levels of communication high as well as ensuring that you have a fabulous insight into your child’s life at Heathfield Prep.

To access the page, please click on this link and answer the security questions.

Rishworth Prep Foundation Stage - Facebook Group The page is for parents only. By accessing the page, you are giving permission for your child to be on the page. If you do not give permission then please email Mrs Allison and let her know.

SchoolMap

RISHWORTH SCHOOL

PREPARATORY

FOUNDATION STAGE

For any further information, please visit our website or contact the school directly.

Contact details can be found below.

Rishworth School Preparatory Heathfield House Oldham Road, Sowerby Bridge, + 44 (0) 1422 822217 Halifax, Email: admin@rishworth-school.co.uk R I S H W O R T H S C H O O L West Yorkshire Website: www.rishworth-school.co.uk - Previous Year 7 P R E P A R A T O R Y HX6 4QF

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